Update on Spruit Robbery

[Stingaaaz]

Hi All,

I managed to get my watch back since the armed robbery on the spruit.
Saw it being sold on Facebook Marketplace. Had the serial number to confirm it was my watch.
It was being sold by Francois Bennett.
Got it back with the help of the investigating officer and arrested Francois.
From questioning him we found that he got my watch from a guy named Patty Marara.
A Zimbabwean man who sells second hand goods and cars.
The 2 guys who robbed me were also Zimbabwean.
He said Patty sells 3 to 4 watches a week to him that he then resells on Facebook.
Patty lives in Fourways and they either meet at Broadacres or Patty sends him the watches via Postnet.
Hope this can help others and maybe open a can of worms for Patty Marara and others he deals with.

There are still robberies happening on the spruit with the same 2 guys who sell the stolen goods to Patty.

Attached are their Facebook profiles.
Francois Bennett
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/profile/100008568766472
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/851375055887038?ref=marketplace_profile&referral_code=undefined

Patty Marara:
https://www.facebook.com/patty.marara

 

[The Ouzo]

Well hopefully this Francois chop also gets whats coming to him as he clearly knows he is dealing in stolen goods

[Murrob]

I’ve always had a hard time believing that fellow cyclists could be part of the problem. That you could cycle yourself and then still profit from stolen goods hurts my brain. 

[Rowl]

This feels like watch laundering, where did this chap think all the cheap watches come from?! Does he go and buy chargers to sell with the watches?! From a quick view his FB profile has 12 watches on it, how many of them are stolen!

@Nick can you please ban:

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/profile/2676-francois-bennett

 

Edit: In addition, would a stolen device portal not help with this?  Together with the stolen bikes section?  Everyone with a smart watch should have a serial number on their Garmin/whatever profile.

Edited September 6, 2023 by Roul

[Zebra]

..would be interesting to see if a Francois Bennet has indeed bought watch CHARGERS from either Garmin, or Navworld, or similar? Since MOST of these watches are useless without theri DEDICATED charging cables/cradles?

Cheers

Chris

[The Ouzo]

looking at Francois marketplace, you have to wonder how much of the stuff he has on sale are stolen goods.

[dave303e]

Like I have said many many times, our stolen goods are being bought and sold by cyclists all around us. Disgusted by the reseller, no way in hell he does not know he is selling stolen goods

[BuffsVintageBikes]

Skelm f()kken etter...

I'm interested to know if the investigating officer is taking this any further regarding this Patty prick?

[Robbie Stewart]

11 minutes ago, The Ouzo said:

looking at Francois marketplace, you have to wonder how much of the stuff he has on sale are stolen goods.

all of it.

Surely these GPS devices can be traced back to their original owners.

[Edereese]

They must arrest him too... I see here's another profile on bike hub selling watches with no boxes or chargers. 

[Shebeen]

How is anything that requires a connection to the internet able to be stolen and resold these days?

GARMIN in this case could shut down the stolen goods market, but guess what it's good for business every time one gets stolen, so they don't.

[Barry]

16 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

How is anything that requires a connection to the internet able to be stolen and resold these days?

GARMIN in this case could shut down the stolen goods market, but guess what it's good for business every time one gets stolen, so they don't.

Yep Garmin make money on the replacement device and make money on the charger or cables for the stolen device. They wont shoot that goose. 

[Pusher]

On 9/6/2023 at 10:23 AM, Zebra said:

..would be interesting to see if a Francois Bennet has indeed bought watch CHARGERS from either Garmin, or Navworld, or similar? Since MOST of these watches are useless without theri DEDICATED charging cables/cradles?

Cheers

Chris

Chargers are easily available from Makro or Takealot. 

Multiple Device Charger Cable Garmin Fenix 6 6S 6X Fenix 5 5S 5X Plus | Buy Online in South Africa | takealot.com

[Block]

On 9/6/2023 at 11:06 AM, Shebeen said:

How is anything that requires a connection to the internet able to be stolen and resold these days?

GARMIN in this case could shut down the stolen goods market, but guess what it's good for business every time one gets stolen, so they don't.

Garmin will offer no assistance. Requested them to look if my stolen 520 Edge get linked to a new account. Told me it cannot be done as it will be intrusion of private info

[Paul Ruinaard]

On 9/6/2023 at 9:35 AM, Stingaaaz said:

Hi All,

I managed to get my watch back since the armed robbery on the spruit.
Saw it being sold on Facebook Marketplace. Had the serial number to confirm it was my watch.
It was being sold by Francois Bennett.
Got it back with the help of the investigating officer and arrested Francois.
From questioning him we found that he got my watch from a guy named Patty Marara.
A Zimbabwean man who sells second hand goods and cars.
The 2 guys who robbed me were also Zimbabwean.
He said Patty sells 3 to 4 watches a week to him that he then resells on Facebook.
Patty lives in Fourways and they either meet at Broadacres or Patty sends him the watches via Postnet.
Hope this can help others and maybe open a can of worms for Patty Marara and others he deals with.

There are still robberies happening on the spruit with the same 2 guys who sell the stolen goods to Patty.

Attached are their Facebook profiles.
Francois Bennett
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/profile/100008568766472
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/851375055887038?ref=marketplace_profile&referral_code=undefined

Patty Marara:
https://www.facebook.com/patty.marara

 

Patty Marara mobile number visible on the above #justsaying. You can i am sure have a discussion with him if need be, or get some friends to have a call with him i am sure.

[Bicycle Supply Chain]

On 9/6/2023 at 10:15 AM, Roul said:

This feels like watch laundering, where did this chap think all the cheap watches come from?! Does he go and buy chargers to sell with the watches?! From a quick view his FB profile has 12 watches on it, how many of them are stolen!

@Nick can you please ban:

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/profile/2676-francois-bennett

 

Edit: In addition, would a stolen device portal not help with this?  Together with the stolen bikes section?  Everyone with a smart watch should have a serial number on their Garmin/whatever profile.

I would suggest that the admin team contact all the people who purchased items from him on bike hub (as can be seen by the ratings and bike hub pay etc) and inform them that their items are possibly stolen goods and allow them to trace the original owners and return the goods to them  or hand them over to the investigators.